The MBA Insiders blog offers an objective, “inside” perspective on issues relevant to prospective MBA students and others interested in learning more about an MBA and/or UCLA Anderson. The blog is managed by members of the full-time MBA program’s Admissions Committee.

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January 16, 2013

Q&A with the Financial Aid Office

We receive lots of questions about financing your MBA, so today
I’m excited to share insights from Ji Choi and Andy Promsiri, our amazing
full-time MBA Financial Aid team. Ji
and Andy are committed to helping prospective and current students find the
best options to fund your studies and collectively bring many years of
financial aid experience and knowledge. Check out their helpful tips below!

Our photogenic financial aid team Andy & Ji

What are some common financial aid mistakes made by applicants?

First off, borrowing too much – just because you qualify for X
amount of loans doesn’t mean you have to take it all! Look at your savings, your budget and the
cost of education to see how much you will need for tuition, books, living
expenses, travel, and “surprise” expenses and borrow accordingly.

Another common mistake we often see is a student borrowing money without doing
all the research on the best financing options for you. Every loan has different incentives and
drawbacks that affect individual borrowers differently. It’s important to read the fine print to make
sure you understand what they are. This site provides a lot of information on private loans and is a good place to start.

What steps can prospective students take now to prepare
financially for their MBA?

Domestic students can start filling out the FAFSA now – provisional award letters will
be sent to our admitted students beginning in April. We also recommend you check your credit
report so there are no surprises if/when you start looking into private loan
options. You can check your credit for free
at www.annualcreditreport.com.

What should prospective students know about UCLA Anderson’s
financial aid office?

We have an open door policy and are
happy to answer questions from prospective and admitted students alike! Financing your MBA is an
important factor in deciding which program is right for you, and we are here to
help add clarity to that process throughout your MBA journey.

What are some financing options available for our full-time
MBA students?

All of our admitted students are considered
for merit-based fellowships, and we announce awards at the time of admission. Award amounts vary depending on the strength
of your entire application relative to the rest of the admit pool. Typically, the top third of our admits will
receive some level of fellowship money.

It’s important to note that students who
did not receive a fellowship at admission can apply for select 2nd
year donor fellowships. Awards are based on first-year grades in the core courses, involvement
in the UCLA Anderson community and other criteria set by the donors.

Approximately
20% of 2nd year students take on TA/RA positions as well. Perks include competitive pay, partial
tuition remission, and health insurance.
These positions aren’t guaranteed since the professors announce and
select their TA/RAs, but it’s an option to keep in mind.

What about international students?

We do offer a private loan that does not require a US
cosigner, which you can find more information about on our website. Also, International students admitted to our
program will need to fill out a Confidential Financial Statement (CFS) as part
of the requirement to obtain an I-20, and many admits don't know you can use any grants, fellowships,
and loans you receive to meet the CFS threshold.

We highly recommend international students to research other
financing options offered by your home country to see if your government
provides any incentives for graduate study.
For example, some countries provide grants and/or low interest loans to
their citizens that can have a significant impact on your MBA investment.

Any final words of wisdom?

Look at the big picture ROI – not just the cost
of education but also outcomes like employment statistics and salaries when
researching MBA programs.

Put in the time to assemble a strong
application – not only will you be a stronger candidate for admissions
purposes, you can put yourself in a better position to receive a merit
fellowship as well.

If you have ANY financial aid-related
questions, don’t be shy - just ask us!